The Los Angeles Lakers may soon find themselves competing in one of the most anticipated superstar chases in recent NBA history — but they’ll enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes at a significant disadvantage.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Thursday that the Milwaukee Bucks superstar’s latest remarks about his future suggest a potential trade request could be on the horizon, and that front offices around the league are already bracing for it.
“[Antetokounmpo] just gave you the answer to that question,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s First Take. “He said six or seven months. He didn’t just pull that number out of thin air — he thought very carefully about how long it was until the end of the season. And what he basically said there is, ‘I’m going to give it another evaluation at the end of the season.’”
According to Windhorst, the sense around the league is that the Bucks’ championship window — and Antetokounmpo’s patience — may be closing fast.
“It is very clear to the whole league that Giannis’s situation in Milwaukee is probably short-term,” he said. “Could they surprise the league this year and have a great run in the Eastern Conference? I’ve seen stranger things. The Eastern Conference is not particularly strong, and that’s why Giannis is leaving the door open. But the league is preparing for the end of Giannis’s tenure in Milwaukee.”
Antetokounmpo Keeps Door Ajar
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and 2021 NBA champion, tried to quiet speculation when asked about his future this week, but his words only added fuel to the fire.
“First of all, I haven’t read that story,” Antetokounmpo said after Wednesday’s practice. “When the season starts, I try to get off social media and focus on my craft and the team. But yeah, I’ve said this many times: I want to be in a situation where I can win — and right now, I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go. It’s definitely going to be hard, but I’m here.”
Yet, in the same breath, he hinted at the possibility of reassessing his future by season’s end.
“I think I’ve communicated with my teammates and the people I respect that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, the rest does not matter,” he said. “Now, if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want.”
The remarks reinforced the perception that this season is a “championship or bust” campaign for Milwaukee — one that could determine whether Antetokounmpo spends the rest of his prime years elsewhere.
Knicks’ Window Closes, Market Opens
Adding to the intrigue, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the New York Knicks and Bucks engaged in an “exclusive” round of trade discussions in August after Antetokounmpo identified New York as his preferred destination outside Milwaukee. Those talks reportedly stalled at the exploratory stage, and Charania later confirmed that the Knicks’ exclusive window has closed — reopening the bidding for the league’s 29 other teams.
That development has thrust the Lakers back into the conversation, though their ability to make a competitive offer remains limited. Los Angeles currently controls just one future first-round pick (2031 or 2032), along with another tradable pick next summer. Their most valuable trade chip may be guard Austin Reaves, who would almost certainly be included in a sign-and-trade framework because they do not have a big-salaried player outside of Luka Dončić.
Lakers’ Hope Rests on Star Power
Even with limited assets, the Lakers’ front office — led by Rob Pelinka — has proven resourceful before. Their stunning acquisition of Dončić earlier this year reshaped the franchise overnight and demonstrated that the Lakers’ brand power and star-driven appeal can still move mountains in trade talks.
Landing Antetokounmpo, however, would be a far taller order. The market is expected to include multiple contenders with deeper asset pools, including Golden State, Houston and San Antonio.
For now, the Lakers can only watch as the Bucks’ season unfolds — and as the league waits for what could be the next seismic superstar decision.
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